Athletes Part of USOC's Olympic Job Opportunities Program
ATLANTA, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The count down has begun! In
just four days, 16 Home Depot associates from across the country will march
with the United States Olympic Team in the Opening Ceremonies for the 2002
Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. As the leading employer in the U.S.
Olympic Committee's Olympic Job Opportunities Program (OJOP), The Home
Depot(R)(NYSE: HD) employs athletes part-time -- allowing time off for their
intense training schedules -- and pays them full-time compensation.
"If it wasn't for this job, I wouldn't be skating," said Olympic
speedskater Derek Parra, a 3-year veteran of the job program and a medal
hopeful for the U.S. "Home Depot is really supportive. This job has allowed
me to focus on skating and not worry about working all night to pay the
bills."
The athletes spend time each week mixing paint, tending to plants and
cutting 2x4's in exchange for the support from Home Depot. Home Depot
currently employs more than 140 winter and summer Olympic and Paralympic
athletes and hopefuls. Since 1992, more than 280 athletes have worked for
Home Depot, more than any other company in the world.
"At Home Depot, our core values include taking care of our people," said
Bob Nardelli, chairman, president and CEO of The Home Depot. "The Olympic job
program helps our Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls by giving them the
flexibility they need to pursue their dreams. In exchange, they share their
passion for their sports and our company's commitment to customer service."
U.S. Olympic Team members employed by Home Depot and competing in the 2002
Olympic Winter Games include:
NAME SPORT STORE LOCATION HOMETOWN
Driscoll, Annie Speedskating Cashier, Salt Lake City Roseville, Minn.
Gale, Tristan Skeleton Garden, Salt Lake City Ruidoso, N.M.
Gordon, John Curling Lumber, Fridley, Minn. Superior, Wis.
Greenwood, Jeff Snowboarding Garden, Bend, Ore. Granby, Conn.
Hines, Garrett Bobsleigh Paint, Lake Mary, Fla. Chicago
Kosglow, Lisa Snowboarding Garden, Louisville, Colo. Boise, Idaho
Liapis, Stacey Curling Specialty Services, Bemidji, Minn.
Chicago
McCormick, Curling Specialty Services, Madison, Wis.
Debbie Madison, Wis.
Parra, Derek Speedskating Flooring, San Bernardino
West Valley City, Utah
Shaffer, Alex Skiing Specialty Services, Aspen, Colo.
West Valley City, Utah
Smith, Rusty Speedskating Hardware, Colorado Sunset Beach,
Springs, Colo. Calif.
Somerville, Tim Curling Front End, Minneapolis, Superior, Wis.
Minn.
Steele, Dan Bobsleigh Electrical, Eugene, Ore. Sherrard, Ill.
Steele, Darrin Bobsleigh Hardware, San Ramon, Sherrard, Ill.
Calif.
Trevena, Jondon Speedskating Hardware, Fort Collins,
West Valley City, Utah Colo.
Weaver, Patrick Skiing Paint, Bend, Ore. Lenox, Mass.
The Home Depot is a proud sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams
through 2004, as well as the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Home Depot has supported the Olympic Movement since 1992, when it signed on as
a sponsor of the 1994 and 1996 U.S. Olympic Teams and the Centennial Olympic
Games in the company's hometown of Atlanta.
Founded in 1978, Home Depot operates more than 1,333 stores in the U.S.,
Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The company reported net sales for fiscal
2000 of $45.7 billion and employs more than 250,000 people. In February 2001
Home Depot was ranked 6th in Fortune magazine's Top Ten Most Admired Companies
and for eight consecutive years, the company has been ranked by Fortune as
America's Most Admired Specialty Retailer. Its stock is publicly traded
(NYSE: HD) and is included in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the Dow
Jones 30 Industrial Index.
SOURCE The Home Depot
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Related links:
http://www.homedepot.com
CONTACT:
Mandy Holton of The Home Depot,
+1-770-384-2935, or cell, +1-404-229-5931; or Kate Gordon of
Edelman Worldwide, +1-212-642-7764, or +1-917-853-5978, on-site
in Salt Lake City
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